Let it rain! Week 36, 2011

It was a hot evening in March, and became even hotter as flames arose from within a building close to mine. An electrical fault had resulted in a fire which threatened to consume the building and others around.
You see I live in a crowded place; a shanty of several wooden structures with zinc roofs clustered together so close you could hear conversations in adjacent buildings. There was little space between buildings, and ventilation was sparse, but it was home. It was the home we had been in for a while with our life belongings. My husband worked as a security man and sexton while I made a living selling “okpa” for people to eat. Life insurance and fire insurance were definitely not in our dictionary. As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! Psa 40:17(ESV).
The fire had now spread to the building next to ours, and the occupants were frantically removing property and attempting vainly to douse the flames with detergent water. Clearly it was time to evacuate! What can I take? What should I go for first? Where are the children? We quickly began taking some things out of the house; our neighbour was not spared, it appeared the house would be engulfed: the flames were already pouring into our building! When you cross deep rivers, I will be with you, and you won't drown. When you walk through fire, you won't be burned or scorched by the flames Isa 43:2 (CEV).
“Won’t you help move out the property?” my husband asked. I had stopped moving things about. What use was it? I paced around and prayed “God, you can’t allow this to happen to us. No God you just cannot. Today I shall know if I serve a living God! God I have to see your hand in this matter.” He rescues the poor who call to him, and those who are needy and neglected Psa 72:12 (GNB).
Suddenly the rain began, slowly at first. Could it be? It was too early for rains, was it a drizzle? It picked up strength and poured, boy it poured water down! My God had heard! This was His answer. When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses Jer 10:13(ESV). The fire was completely put out by the rain. We were saved.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles Psa 34:3, 4, 6(ESV).
Sr Florence still lives in the shanty in New Haven.